The hospital didn't smell like magic or mystery; it smelled of antiseptic and slow-fading hope. Kai stood outside Room 402, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of a clean hoodie. His old leather jacket was a pile of scrap in a dumpster outside the Association headquarters. He looked normal— an E-Rank scavenger who had survived a "statistical anomaly." But inside, his veins were humming. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the black screen.
> Current Level: 4
> Abyss Level: 2.1%
> Stat Point Distribution: Pending.
He pushed the door open. The rhythmic hum of the life-support machines was the only sound in the room. His sister, Minae, lay there, her skin the color of parchment. Six years ago, she had been caught in a "Mana Leak" during a Gate opening. Since then, her body had been slowly crystallizing—a condition only high-grade mana stones and A-Rank healers could treat.
"I'm back," Kai whispered, sitting by the bed. He reached out to touch her hand, but stopped. For a split second, he felt the Abyss within him stir. It didn't feel like healing; it felt like a void. He pulled his hand back, a cold sweat breaking out on his neck.
If I reach A-Rank... if I complete the System's quest... can I fix this? Or am I becoming something that shouldn't be near her?
A soft knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. A doctor in a white coat entered, looking at a tablet with a frown.
"Mr. Draven. I didn't expect you back so soon. I heard about the Red Gate incident. I'm glad you're... intact." The doctor didn't look glad; he looked tired. "However, the Association's insurance only covers 'Standard Raid Injuries.' Since you were classified as a non-combatant 'pack mule' in the report filed by Ronan Blake, they are refusing the subsidy for Minae's next treatment."
Kai's jaw tightened. "How much?"
"Five million won. By the end of the week. Otherwise, we have to move her to the general ward."
The general ward was a death sentence for Mana-Crystallization patients.
"I'll have it," Kai said, his voice dropping an octave.
The doctor sighed, a look of pity in his eyes. "Kai, you're an E-Rank. Even if you run three raids a day, the math doesn't work. Unless you find a Hidden Gate or... well, let's be realistic."
The doctor left. Kai stood up, the shadows in the corner of the room seemingly stretching toward his feet, responding to his frustration.
Realistic? Kai thought. Reality tried to eat me this morning.
He walked to the window, looking out at the Seoul skyline, dotted with the glowing violet scars of Gates. He realized then that the "System" wasn't a curse—it was a ladder.
> [Daily Quest Triggered: The Scavenger's Hunger]
> [Objective: Absorb 10 Mana Crystals or 1 Core]
> [Reward: +2 Strength, +1 Skill Point]
"I need a Gate," Kai muttered. "A private one. Somewhere the Association isn't looking."
He pulled out his phone and scrolled through the "Underground Exchange"—a marketplace for illegal Gate keys and unverified sightings. Usually, an E-Rank would never dream of entering an unregistered Gate alone. But Kai wasn't just an E-Rank anymore. He was a predator who had tasted B-Rank blood.
He clicked on a listing: [Unverified D-Rank Sighting: Abandoned Construction Site, District 9. Key Price: 1 Million Won.] He had exactly one million won in his savings. It was a gamble. If he failed, he'd be broke and Minae would be moved. If he won... he'd start his climb to the Apex.
He hit [Purchase].
As he left the room, his shadow lingered on the floor a second longer than it should have, flickering like a flame in a dark room. The Abyss was hungry again.